About Gillenti Garage
Built From a Love of Cars, Creativity & Customization
Gillenti Garage LLC was established in June 2026, but the passion behind it started long before the business had a name.
Growing up in the late 1990s and early 2000s, I was fascinated by the custom car scene. Lights, audio systems, custom vehicles, and the creativity that went into making a vehicle truly your own immediately caught my attention. During my grade school years, I also attended art classes, where painting quickly became my favorite part. Looking back, those two interests—automotive customization and art—were laying the foundation for what would eventually become Gillenti Garage.
In 2005, I bought my first car: a 2002 Honda Civic EX. Like many enthusiasts getting started, I couldn’t leave it stock for long. I added green interior LEDs and two 10-inch subwoofers in the trunk, and I began attending custom vehicle shows during my school years.
A major part of that early experience came from a family connection. A family friend took the time to teach me how to install LEDs and automotive audio equipment. That experience sparked something in me and showed me that customization wasn’t just something I could admire—it was something I could learn to create myself.
From Architecture to Automotive
After high school, I initially pursued architecture. I eventually realized that becoming an architect would require more schooling than I wanted to commit to, so I decided to change direction.
I knew that if I wanted to build and customize vehicles, I should first understand how they actually worked. That led me into the automotive industry and eventually to becoming an automotive technician.
While attending a technical college in Chicago, I found an aftermarket automotive electronics shop that was hiring. I got the job and thought, “I made it!”
There, I began learning the professional side of automotive customization—installing remote-start systems, alarms, audio equipment, and other aftermarket electronics. I genuinely enjoyed the work and the opportunity to learn.
The only problem?
Chicago is expensive.
Eventually, I moved back to Bloomington, Illinois, where my family was based. In 2010, I officially began working as an automotive technician for a small-town business. After eight years there, I moved into dealership life and continued developing my automotive knowledge and experience.
But something was still missing.
I enjoyed working on vehicles, but being an automotive technician wasn’t giving me the excitement I was looking for. I wanted to get back to creating.
The Birth of Gillenti Garage
In 2023, I married my beautiful wife, and that’s where the name Gillenti began.
My last name is Gillenwater and her last name is Centi. We decided to combine the two names—and Gillenti was born.
A few years later, that name became more than just a combination of our last names.
In June 2026, Gillenti Garage LLC was officially established.
The business originally started with the idea of being an all-around custom shop, along with offering some maintenance work. But as the vision developed, it became clear that trying to do everything wasn’t the right direction.
So we narrowed the focus to the areas that truly bring the passion back:
Custom Paint & Audio.
Why Gillenti Garage?
At Gillenti Garage, customization is about more than simply installing a part or changing a color.
It’s about taking an idea that someone's idea and turning it into something they can actually see, hear, and drive.
From custom paint and finishes to automotive audio, our goal is to combine technical experience with creativity to build something that feels personal to the owner.
The journey that started with a Honda Civic, a couple of subwoofers, some green LEDs, and a love for custom cars eventually led here.
Gillenti Garage is where automotive experience meets creativity.
You Dream It! We Build It!